The tarp is coming off the field, but the Orioles won't hit outdoors. Left-hander Brian Matusz reported to the minor league complex today feeling good physically after yesterday's flat-ground session. Exactly the news that the Orioles wanted to hear. Matusz is scheduled to throw from 120 feet tomorrow, the next progression from 60 and 90. "He gets another day or two of that under his belt and we'll progress him to the mound," manager Buck Showalter said. Matusz will need at least...

It's raining and the tarp's on the field. The clouds seem to be breaking up and we see some clearing. Early word is the storm will pass by 5 p.m., but I've been fooled many times in the past - and that includes the weather. Here's the Orioles' lineup, which includes Luke Scott in left field: Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Derrek Lee 1B Vladimir Guerrero DH Luke Scott LF Adam Jones CF Mark Reynolds 3B Matt Wieters C Robert Andino SS Jake Arrieta RHP

The Washington Nationals have renewed their working agreement with Angela T. Gordon, MPT, ATC, retaining her as the team's physical therapist. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Gordon provides comprehensive outpatient physical therapy services for the Washington Nationals' players, covering the team's pre-season evaluations in Florida and 40 home games during the regular baseball season. Among the job...

The Nationals begin their second road trip of the season tonight in St. Louis against the Cardinals, looking for their first four-game win streak of the campaign and their first back-to-back series triumphs. It will be a difficult task at Busch Stadium, where the Nats haven't won a game since 2007. First baseman Adam LaRoche said a major reason for their modest win streak is the offense finally helped out the pitching in a weekend sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers. "I think what is really...

Hi, Buck. I'm a big fan. Truly, I am. But I have a bone to pick with you. It's about Jake Fox. I completely understand sacrificing defense for offense, especially when you are in a scoring drought like the Orioles were just slogging through before last night's 11-0 win. (Although, do you have to put him if left with Chris Tillman is on the mound? That kid needs all the help he can get.) And Fox can help with that. But Fox can't hit lefties. So stop letting him. I know he's a...

After a slow start, Brandon Snyder's bat is suddenly stirring at Triple-A Norfolk. Snyder is now batting .324 with a homer and eight RBIs after an impressive three-game batting surge. He had just three hits over his first six games, but has had eight in the past three contests. After batting just .150 in those first six games, Snyder had two homers among his three hits in last night's 10-5 Norfolk win over Charlotte. He is 8-for-13 over three games with a double, three homers and six RBIs,...

The Double-A Harrisburg Senators announced that catcher Derek Norris has been activated from the seven-day disabled list and has returned to the roster. The Senators roster now stands at 24 active and one on the disabled list. Catcher Brian Peacock has been returned to the Single-A Potomac Nationals. Jeremy Mayo heads back to the Gulf Coast League. A Nationals source reports Norris is "ready to go." Weather permitting, Norris is expected to start tonight. Norris injured his ankle running...

O's catcher Matt Wieters said before the game that Chris Tillman can pitch well at his current velocity and then Tillman went out and proved that to be true. We can all debate where Tillman's velocity went and why he doesn't throw low- to mid-90s more often now, but he doesn't. It doesn't mean he can't win consistently or pitch well if he gets ahead hitters and has movement on his pitches and command of them. Tillman's outing last night was encouraging. After yielding 10 runs and 15...

The Nationals just finished up an exciting homestand that saw them go 4-2 against two teams that were picked by many to win their respective divisions. The club's only losses came to two pitchers who can easily claim the title as the best right- or left-handed starters in baseball, Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee, and by winning both games of the doubleheader Sunday, the Nationals are now 8-7 on the season. With 15 games under their belt, they are just about 10 percent of the way through the year,...

We've grown accustomed to the Orioles crashing in August, though last year proved the exception. I wonder if they're aware that it's still April. Same first letter, different month. The losing streak has reached eight games, but I'm still not in panic mode. That's mostly because it's baseball, which doesn't freak me out unless it forces me to rewrite a game story in the ninth inning or a screaming line drive is headed for my larynx. Still, it's disturbing that the Orioles got off to...